It will be little consolation to Dundee High Rugby that they collected a losing bonus for the second week in succession, since Saturday’s 27-26 defeat at the hands of Aberdeen Grammar Rugby at Mayfield was the fourth loss in a row for Colin Robertson’s troops.
They have not tasted success since an early October win over BT National League Division 1 whipping boys Hillhead Jordanhill, and against an Aberdeen side who have themselves blown hot and cold so far, Dundee were never in a position to pose a real threat until close to the end of the game.
They trailed 22-16 at the break and it adds only insult to injury by suggesting they won the second half when the final scoreline still favoured the visitors.
Centre Tim McKavenagh and flanker George Arnott had the first-half tries for Dundee with Harry Miller landing two penalties, and although Matt O’Sullivan crossed for try number three and Miller added the conversion and a penalty, it was not enough.
Aberdeen’s points came from centre Peceli Nacamavuto, scrum-half and skipper Morgan Ward, flanker Calum Champion and No 8 Ali Mackie with Alex Hagart converting two and adding a penalty.
That result propels Aberdeen above Dundee into sixth and although Dundee slump back into seventh the alarm bells are still not quite ringing.
If they could pull off a win in next Saturday’s BT Cup second round tie at Malleny Park against Currie, that would be a huge boost.
As a result of failing to collect a win bonus at Beveridge Park against Kirkcaldy, Howe of Fife lose clear leadership of BT National League Division 2, with Hamilton now level on points and second only on differential.
Kirkcaldy were in the match at half-time with Howe only 12-3 ahead, tries by Fraser Clark and Rob Douglas with a Dom Martin conversion to a Jamie Moffat penalty.
However, after 80 minutes Clark had bookended his performance with the first and last tries while the Kirkcaldy side of the scoreboard remained motionless.
Howe can now only sit and watch as Hamilton look likely to pass them after they play their rescheduled match against Cartha Q/P on November 22.
They might still be just short of a top-two challenging spot in the league, but the fast-improving Aberdeenshire can claim to have had a big influence on who does make the title and play-off spots as they went to Sunnyside and dumped aspirants Falkirk by 21-8.
Shire held the whip hand at the break, 13-0 up thanks to tries from Wiaan Griebenow and Tom Kiwara, with Adam Blake adding a penalty.
Falkirk hit back in the second half with a try from Laurence Miller and a Harry Boyd penalty, but Sean Murchie’s try for Shire saw the points head north and hoists them into fifth spot and only three points behind Falkirk who drop to fourth.
A comfortable mid-table spot is where Perthshire find themselves after their 21-17 win at McKane Park against Dunfermline.
No 8 Duncan Clow and lock Adam Pattinson had the tries for Shire, Clow kicked three penalties and a conversion.
It was again Zac Zropf who did the damage for Dunfermline, picking up 12 points out of 17 for the home side with four penalties as wing Andy McKenzie grabbed their only try.
Perthshire sit on 24 points in seventh spot, one ahead of Irvine but then there is a big gap to the bottom four who will battle out the drop zone and they include Dunfermline, second bottom and only three points ahead of basement boys Murrayfield Wanderers.